August 27th 2024
This year the Better Security, Better Care programme celebrated 3 years of supporting care providers to improve their data and cyber security practices. Over 70% of care services in England now have an up-to-date Data Security & Protection Toolkit (DSPT) in place – up from just 15% since the programme’s launch in 2021.
Wirral Council were initially one of many Local Authorities facing challenges with getting social care providers up to speed on using the toolkit, which helps care providers in England check and improve their data and cyber security arrangements. By August of this year, Wirral council have more than doubled their initial figures, with 78% of care providers having now published an up-to-date DSPT.
Challenges and initial steps
Wirral Council recognised the need for external support early on. As Michael Hanrahan, Telecare and Telehealth Manager at Wirral Council explains,
“The importance of data protection and good information governance had long been a priority for the council, but the national push for the digitisation of social care prompted us to refocus our efforts on ensuring that our providers were on par with NHS standards in terms of data security.”
Michael got in touch with his Local Support Organisation – Liverpool Social Care Partnership (LSCP) CIC – to help the council with getting providers through the toolkit. Initially, most care providers were unfamiliar with the benefits of the DSPT and why it was important to complete it. Funded by the Better Security, Better Care programme, LSCP were able to offer direct, tailored support to care providers and take the hard work out of Wirral’s hands.
Training and problem solving
LSCP worked with Wirral Council to set up face to face DSPT training sessions. The training consisted of a surgery-style format where care services could bring their laptops and received assistance with questions they were struggling to complete.
Wirral Council worked with providers to remind them of the importance of protecting digital systems as more providers began making the switch to digital. LSCP were able to support care services to use the toolkit as a part of that switch to digital.
This included some education on the basics of cyber security, such as securing WiFi networks, logging out of systems after shifts, and managing sensitive information on personal devices.
Continued progress
Wirral Council held monthly forums with different groups of care providers to reiterate the importance of completing the toolkit. LSCP’s contact information was widely shared at these forums, and contract managers incorporated DSPT compliance into their regular conversations with care providers.
New contracts for care homes will explicitly require DSPT compliance alongside Digital Social Care Records.
Impact on care providers and outcomes
Michael explains how care providers engaging with the free support found the process to be simpler than expected,
“Compliance with the toolkit provides care providers, and the council, with a sense of assurance that their data protection measures are in line with NHS standards, which, in turn, reassures families and service users.”
Furthermore, care providers were able to reap the benefits of moving to Digital Social Care Record systems. Digital care planning software allows care services to monitor care more effectively, reduce administration burdens, identify gaps in support, and ensure that service users are receiving good quality care. This is a major milestone in improving care quality, but also highlights the critical importance of keeping data secure—a task made manageable through the DSPT.
Further information
- Find your Local Support Organisation to access free, direct support to use the DSPT.
- Resources for local authority commissioners of care.
- See a list of DSPT questions and what they ask for.
- Free support and resources to use the DSPT.
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